Spider Man Arrested in Alabama

Citizens, especially women, are continuously warned about stopping for police officers in dark, lonely places without first verifying the identity of the policemen. In fact, letters circulate so often on the internet about this scary proposition that many women become immune to the warning. Although few can imagine this actually happening to them, heeding this advice to be cautious has saved many lives through the years. Just this past week, this scenario played out in a small North Alabama town, with a slight twist. Apparently, feeling that impersonating a police officer was too difficult to do alone, a Lawrence County, Alabama, man decided to take along a frightening accomplice. Tom Ethan Wiley was arrested this week after stopping motorists while wearing a visor labeled with the word "Sheriff." This is a felony offense, even though Wiley did not use any other police paraphernalia such as a badge or red and blue lights. Two motorists apparently stopped after the suspect pulled his white Cadillac close to their cars, quickly flashed his lights to get their attention, and then pointed to the visor on his head. When the motorists complied with Wiley's signals to pull over, he frisked them and accused both drivers of having been seen leaving a known drug house. While searching Wiley's vehicle after his arrest, police discovered his partner in crime, a big tarantula spider, in the armrest console.